Yes, Budapest is quite easy to navigate as an English speaker, especially in tourist areas. English is widely spoken in restaurants, hotels, museums, and public transportation hubs. Most signs, especially in central areas, are also in both Hungarian and English.
If you venture into more rural areas or smaller shops and markets, English may be less common, but people are generally friendly and willing to help. A simple phrasebook or translation app like Google Translate can be useful in these situations.
Learning a few basic Hungarian phrases, such as “hello” (szia), “thank you” (köszönöm), and “please” (kérem), is always appreciated by locals, even if English is commonly understood.